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Croker Bay!

Northwest Passage

Calgary - Reykjavik - Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Sylvia Earle
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Embark on a 15-day cruise aboard the Sylvia Earle. Sail to Cambridge Bay to view Roald Amundsen’s sunken ship, Maud. Navigate to King William Island to investigate sites connected to the Franklin expedition. Transit the narrow Bellot Strait and explore ancient Inuit archaeological remains at Radstock Bay. Take a Zodiac past the glaciers of Croker Bay and view the historic RCMP post at Dundas Harbor. Cross Baffin Bay toward Greenland while scanning the night sky for the northern lights. Visit the remote settlement of Kullorsuaq near the Devil's Thumb mountain. Hike the tundra bordering the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord to observe massive icebergs. Discover ancient Inuit history at the UNESCO site of Nipisat. End your voyage in Kangerlussuaq with a flight to Reykjavik.
Zodiac cruising at Croker Bay, CanadaA Musk Ox stares at the camera from the tundra.Amazing blue water and ice in GreenlandWalruses coming ashore in the arcticExpanse of the incredible Ilulissat Icefjord!RCMP posts of Dundas HarbourMidnight sun light, IlulissatCroker Bay!
Highlights
  • Discover the rich cultural history of the Inuinnait people in Kugluktuk
  • Navigate through narrow ice-filled waterways while exploring Bellot Strait
  • View towering mountains and glacial valleys across scenic Maxwell Bay
  • Visit the small coastal community set beside the striking Devil’s Thumb
Activities
Places Visited
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Calgary

On arrival in Calgary, meet an Aurora Expeditions representative and transfer to the group hotel. Visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect cabin luggage tags and speak with the ground operations team. They will share important pre-embarkation information for tomorrow’s charter flight and can assist with local dining suggestions or last-minute purchases.

The remainder of the day is at leisure. All meals today are at personal expense.

Accommodation: Calgary hotel (to be advised)

Day 2: Fly to Kugluktuk | Embark

Transfer to Calgary Airport and board the charter flight to Kugluktuk, Nunavut. Please ensure main luggage is fitted with the cabin tags provided and keep valuables, travel documents, medication, and anything required during the day in hand luggage.

Kugluktuk, meaning ‘place of moving water’, stands near the mouth of the Coppermine River in the homeland of the Inuinnait. Copper gathered in this region was fashioned into tools for generations, giving rise to the historical English name ‘Copper Inuit’. Transfer to the Sylvia Earle, settle into the cabin, and join the mandatory safety briefings before meeting the Expedition Team and crew.

Day 3: Port Epworth | At Sea

Expect to begin with a Zodiac cruise or landing at Port Epworth, on a coast shaped by ancient geology and a long record of Inuit travel and seasonal use. Depending on conditions, expect to explore the shoreline and search for archaeological traces that reveal how people moved through and lived within this western Arctic landscape.

Later, the ship sets a course east. Watch from deck for seals, whales, and migrating birdlife as the Expedition Team introduces the human and natural history of the Northwest Passage.

Day 4: Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq) | At Sea

Iqaluktuuttiaq, or Cambridge Bay, means ‘place of many fish’ and reflects the rich waters that have long drawn Inuit families to this part of Victoria Island. Today it is a vibrant regional center where Inuinnaqtun language, harvesting traditions, and contemporary northern life meet.

The harbor is also linked with Roald Amundsen’s ship Maud, which remained here for decades after becoming trapped in ice and sinking. A locally guided visit may explore community history and culture before returning to the ship and continuing east.

Day 5: King William Island

Expect to explore the western side of King William Island, known to Inuit as Qikiqtaq. This landscape is central to the Franklin story, but its history is far older and richer than the European search for a passage. Inuit traveled, hunted, and camped throughout the region for generations, developing knowledge that later proved crucial to understanding the fate of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.

Weather and sea ice determine the landing place. On shore, the Expedition Team may interpret archaeological features, expedition relics, and the oral histories that connect this coast with one of polar exploration’s most enduring mysteries. Watch for caribou, Arctic foxes, seals, and polar bears.

Day 6: Bellot Strait

Bellot Strait is one of the most storied waterways of the Northwest Passage. Barely two kilometers wide at its narrowest point, it separates Somerset Island from the Boothia Peninsula and is swept by strong tides and shifting ice. Safe conditions may allow transit or exploration in the vicinity of Fitzroy Inlet, Bellot Strait, or Strzelecki Harbor.

Zodiac cruises and tundra walks reveal an austere landscape of cliffs, coves, and tidal channels. This was a formidable obstacle for early navigators, yet part of a well-known homeland and travel network for Inuit. Scan the shore and water for polar bears, seals, beluga, and seabirds.

Day 7: Radstock Bay

At Radstock Bay, beneath the limestone mass of Caswall Tower, archaeological remains reveal generations of Inuit life. Stone house foundations, caches, and whale bones speak to sophisticated hunting practices, food storage, and seasonal movement through the region. Expect to hike across raised beaches and tundra while guides bring these traces into context.

Wildlife also shapes the plans. Walrus may use parts of this coast as haul-out habitat, and access can be restricted to protect them. Musk oxen, Arctic hare, foxes, and polar bears are also possible in the wider area, so the Expedition Team may select an alternative site on northwestern Somerset Island if required.

Day 8: Maxwell Bay

Maxwell Bay (Tasiujaq) cuts deeply into Devon Island and offers a choice of sheltered inlets, including Graham Harbor and Custance Inlet. By late September the tundra has taken on autumn tones and early snow may sharpen the island’s flat-topped mountains and glacial valleys.

Expect to explore by Zodiac or on foot, watching for musk oxen, Arctic hare, and foxes on land, and seals or walrus in the water. Polar bears move throughout this region, although every sighting is a matter of chance. Archaeological remains and historic sites may also reveal how Inuit travelers, traders, and later government patrols used these protected waters.

Day 9: Croker Bay and Dundas Harbor

At Croker Bay, a glacier descends toward a broad Arctic inlet. Conditions may favor a Zodiac cruise among sculpted ice or a landing beneath Devon Island’s distinctive mountains. Ringed seals and walrus may be present, with polar bears occasionally traveling the coast.

Expect to also visit Dundas Harbor, where the remains of an RCMP post and former Hudson’s Bay Company activity represent a recent layer of history. Nearby archaeological features point to much older Inuit use of this coast. A tundra walk may bring encounters with musk oxen, Arctic hare, and late-season birdlife.

Day 10: At Sea

The ship leaves Nunavut and crosses Baffin Bay toward Greenland. Spend time on deck scanning for whale blows, seals, and fulmars, or join presentations that connect the two sides of the passage—from shared Inuit cultural roots and long-distance travel to the ambitions of European explorers and the realities of navigation through ice.

As darkness returns to the Arctic night, clear skies may also offer a chance to see the northern lights.

Day 11: Kullorsuaq and the Devil’s Thumb

The return to Greenland begins at Kullorsuaq, a small community set among islands, mountains, and ice in the Upernavik Archipelago. The settlement takes its name from the distinctive mountain nearby: Kullorsuaq, or ‘the Big Thumb’, known in English as the Devil’s Thumb.

A community visit may offer insight into life in one of Greenland’s northern settlements, where hunting and fishing remain closely tied to sea ice, weather, and seasonal wildlife. Offshore, icebergs drift through intricate channels used by seals and whales, and the surrounding cliffs may hold ravens and seabirds.

Day 12: At Sea | Nuussuaq

A morning at sea allows time to watch the Greenland coast unfold and to learn more about its geology, wildlife, and human history. Humpback and minke whales may be encountered in these waters, while changing ice and weather guide the progress.

Later, expect to explore around Nuussuaq. The peninsula’s immense basalt mountains and broad valleys preserve evidence of ancient movement and settlement along a coast that has supported Inuit communities for thousands of years. A late-day landing may offer a tundra walk, Zodiac cruise, or community visit, subject to conditions and local arrangements.

Day 13: Ilulissat

Today’s plans will be shaped by ice, weather, and local conditions. Expect to visit Ilulissat, where people have lived beside the icefjord for more than 4,000 years. A walk toward the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord reveals a constantly changing procession of bergs calved by Sermeq Kujalleq. The nearby Sermermiut valley preserves traces of successive Inuit cultures and adds a powerful human story to this extraordinary glacial landscape.

Day 14: Ukivik and Nipisat

At Ukivik, open tundra and an indented coast may offer a final wilderness walk, shaped by weather, wildlife, and local conditions.

Later, expect to visit Nipisat, part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Aasivissuit–Nipisat: Inuit Hunting Ground between Ice and Sea. Archaeological layers document more than 4,000 years of human history and reveal how successive cultures adapted to seasonal resources between the Greenland Ice Sheet and the coast. It is a fitting place to reflect on Inuit resilience, knowledge, and continuity at the end of the passage.

Day 15: Kangerlussuaq | Disembark | Fly to Reykjavik

  • 1 Breakfast
In Kangerlussuaq, bid farewell to the crew, Expedition Team, and fellow travelers before transferring to the airport for the charter flight to Reykjavik. The voyage concludes on arrival at Reykjavik Airport.

Note: The arrival time in Reykjavik depends on the allocated charter-flight slots. It is recommended to allow flexibility when arranging onward travel.

Ship/Hotel

Sylvia Earle

The Sylvia Earle

Sylvia Earle

Designed for low-impact voyages featuring a fuel-efficient Ulstein X-Bow®, reduced air emissions and light pollution, and virtual anchoring for protection of the sea floor. The ship honors the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. This ship will channel her marine-conservation ethos into a fully immersive on-board guest experience, not only in the Polar regions but in other destinations as the ship sails between the Arctic and the Antarctic.
Sylvia Earle
Sylvia Earle Sun Deck
Sylvia Earle Mud Room

Calgary - Hotels

Hotel Clique

Hotel Clique

Located 5 minutes from the Calgary International Airport (YYC), this modern hotel offers modern stylish accommodations, vibrant dining, a 24-hour airport shuttle, two rooftop hot tubs, conference facilities, and a fully-equipped fitness center.
Ramada Hotel Downtown Calgary

Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Calgary Downtown

Enjoy the excitement of downtown at our Ramada Plaza Calgary Downtown hotel. The hotel is conveniently within walking distance to the Telus Convention Centre and a block from the C-train with efficient access to the BMO Convention Centre, Calgary Stampede Park, Calgary Zoo, and many more Calgary attractions.

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$25,495 2-3 travelers
Aurora Stateroom Triple
Aurora Stateroom Triple
22.67m2 (244ft2) - There are two Aurora Stateroom Triple cabins featuring portholes, all with private en-suites. Located on Deck 3, they're close to the mudroom and loading platforms.
Aurora Stateroom Superior
Aurora Stateroom Superior
19.9m2 - 20.8m2(214.2ft2 - 223.9ft2) - Located on Deck 7, the Staterooms feature french balconies, floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area. Perfect for polar adventurers who travel with plenty of gear.
Balcony Stateroom C
Balcony Stateroom C
19.5m2 - 28.7m2 (209.9ft² - 308.9ft2) - 11 Balcony Stateroom C cabins - most economical, fitted with all the necessities and comfortable for up to 2 people. These cabins are scattered throughout Deck 6.
Balcony Stateroom B
Balcony Stateroom B
19.5m2 - 28.7m2 (209.9ft² - 308.9ft2) - 17 Balcony Stateroom B Cabins - standard cabin, many fitted with interconnecting features making them great for families or groups. These cabins are located at the fore and aft of Deck 4 and 6.
Balcony Stateroom A
Balcony Stateroom A
19.5m² - 28.7m² (209.9ft² - 308.9ft²)- 23 Balcony Stateroom A cabins - premium cabin, and the most abundant on board. These cabins are located in preferred positions on Deck 4 and 6 which provides easy access between Decks via the internal stairs or elevator.
Balcony Stateroom Superior
Balcony Stateroom Superior
29.2m2 - 35.2m2 (314.3ft2 - 378.9ft2) - Located on Deck 4 and 6, the Staterooms feature floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area. Some of these rooms are equipped with wheelchair accessible bathrooms.
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
Up to 41.6m2 (447.8ft2)- 4 Junior Suites take in some impressive scenery from their vantage points on Deck 7. When you aren't enjoying a landing, you can relax in the suites' separate lounge area, or just watch the world float by from the private balcony.
Captain's Suite
Captain’s Suite
43.8m2 (471.5 ft2) - Captain's Suite - the largest of all our rooms, will take you to the polar regions in ultimate style and comfort. Complete with large lounge area, balcony, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite, you'll need to get in early to secure this suite.

Notes

Child Discounts
  • 50% off the Best Available Fare when traveling with two adults in one cabin.
  • 25% off the Best Available Fare when traveling with one adult in one cabin.
Applicable for up to two children (aged 6–12 years), or one to two teenagers (aged 13-15) per cabin.
Included
  • 14 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 13 Dinners
  • 14 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Comprehensive pre-departure information
  • Beer, House Wine, and Soft Drinks with Dinner 
  • Educational Lectures and Guiding Services from Expedition Team 
  • Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
  • Wifi
  • Port Surcharges, Permits, and Landing Fees
  • Captain's Welcome and Farewell drinks including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
  • A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket
  • Complimentary use of Muck boots during the voyage
  • All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
  • All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
  • On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
  • One night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Calgary on Day 1
  • Gratuities during excursions and enrichment program for local guides, drivers, venues and local sites
  • Charter flight from Calgary to Kugluktuk on Day 2
  • Charter flight from Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavik on Day 15
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • Airport Departure Tax - Airport arrival or departure taxes
  • Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, or phone charges
  • Hotels and meals not included in itinerary
  • Optional activity surcharges
  • Reciprocity and Vaccination Charges
  • Transfers – unless specified in the itinerary
  • Passengers traveling with Aurora Expeditions are required to be covered by a reputable travel insurance policy that includes baggage loss, cancellation & curtailment of the holiday, medical, accident, and repatriation/emergency evacuation coverage worth at least $250,000 USD.
  • Crew gratuities

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